Resources · Creatures, spirits & other beings
Folklore Dictionary
Meet the beings of folklore: explore their names, descriptions and associated traditions, from familiar creatures to less familiar inhabitants of the otherworld.
1,598 reference entries · Browse A–Z or explore by place
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Creature coverage
Zoom or move the map, then choose “Filter to this area” to list creatures with a tradition location in that view. You can combine this with a character family or a search term.
Creatures associated with a tradition
56 creatures at 1 tradition locations · 0 without tradition coordinates
Markers use tradition coordinates linked through source names, recorded aliases, language groups or reviewed associations. Language-group links show cultural context, rather than verified creature occurrences in every tradition. Creatures sharing a location are grouped; select a marker to see their names. Counts cover all matching entries across every results page.
Use the location filter or the list below to browse associated places.
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56 matching entries
| Creature | Tradition | Description | Map locations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shui GuiThe dead and disembodied souls (suggested) | Chinese | Drowned ghost | 1 |
| TaotieGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Chinese | Greed spirit | 1 |
| TaowuGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Chinese | A stubborn beast | 1 |
| TiangouGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Chinese | Meteoric dog | 1 |
| TianlongGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Chinese | Celestial dragon | 1 |
| WangliangSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested)Giants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Chinese | Malevolent spirit or monster | 1 |
| Water monkeySpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Chinese | Water spirit | 1 |
| Wu Tou GuiThe dead and disembodied souls (suggested) | Chinese | Beheaded ghost | 1 |
| Xiao (mythology)Animals (suggested) | Chinese | Ape or four-winged bird | 1 |
| Xing TianGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Chinese | Headless giant | 1 |
| YaoguaiDivine and sacred beings (suggested)Spirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Chinese | Animalistic demon or fallen gods | 1 |
| You Hun Ye GuiThe dead and disembodied souls (suggested) | Chinese | Wandering ghost | 1 |
| Yuan GuiThe dead and disembodied souls (suggested) | Chinese | Distressed ghost | 1 |
| ZhulongGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Chinese | Pig-headed dragon | 1 |
| Zhū QuèAnimals (suggested) | Chinese | Fire elemental bird | 1 |
| ZouyuAnimals (suggested)Spirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Chinese | Long and big Cat-like Spirit with a long, red tail | 1 |
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How to cite: Fielder-White, Jonathan (2026). The Folklore Database. Citation version 1.261029.1 (29 October 2026). https://folkloredatabase.com.
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